Heading into Thursday's game, most observers thought the Pistons would have a decided edge at power forward.
But that was anything but the case, as the Cavaliers rode the hot hand of Boozer to easily handle the Pistons, 95-86, before 15,115 at Gund Arena.
Boozer scored a career-high 28 points, added nine rebounds and outplayed Wallace, the two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year who played at Cuyahoga Community College.
Wallace entered the game second in the league in blocks, fourth in rebounds and sixth in steals.
However, Boozer held him in check. Wallace finished with 10 points, nine rebounds and one block.
"I get up for everyone," Boozer said. "I really admire Ben Wallace. He's a hard worker. When you go against hard workers, you have to work harder. He's one of those guys who does the same thing every night. He's very consistent in what he does."
If one didn't know any better, one would think that quote was talking about Boozer.
"That's a very high compliment," Boozer said.
Cavaliers coach Paul Silas, a power forward in his playing days, loved the game he received from Boozer.
"That's what I envisioned from him," he said. "As this thing unfolds, the sky is the limit for him. He was sensational tonight."
Silas was most impressed with Boozer's shooting from 18 feet.
"They were sagging on (center Zydrunas Ilgauskas), our All-Star, and I was getting open shots," Boozer said.
Boozer was taking the same outside shots in the loss to Toronto, but didn't knock them down.
"He came right back tonight and took the shots with confidence," Silas said.
The Cavaliers (6-16) dominated the Pistons in the rebounding department, 45-28.
"We got murdered on the boards," Pistons coach Larry Brown said.
Who can argue with the U.S. Olympic coach?
"Everybody had a big night on the boards," Boozer said. "We were contesting shots and getting rebounds. We all got good stops. We passed the ball around and found the open man. Everybody had a big night on the boards. We were contesting shots and getting rebounds."
But Boozer wasn't the only standout performer.
Guard LeBron James fired in 23 points and matched his career high with nine assists. He's showing more leadership skills by the game.
"It's going to change," James said. "I made good decisions down the stretch. I have not made myself a complete leader yet. When the situation (arises), I took over the game in the fourth quarter.
"I've been a leader my whole life. I don't want to let anyone down. I never want to be a follower."
The Cavaliers won their first game on national television in their sixth try. They did it by shooting a high percentage - 53 percent - and holding Pistons guard Rip Hamilton to 19 points.
In the previous meeting between the two teams, Nov. 28, Hamilton erupted for 44 points.
"I made him work hard," Cavaliers swingman Ira Newble said. "I wasn't going to let him get in any kind of rhythm. If he did, I was going to give him a hard foul."
Hamilton was just 6 of 12 from the field.
Cavaliers guard Ricky Davis had 15 points, nine rebounds and five assists, while backup center Chris Mihm pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds (he has 23 rebounds in two meetings with the Pistons).
Silas thought Thursday's game was the Cavaliers' best of the season.
"We played a very, very good game from start to finish," he said. "This is what we've been looking for. We got a lot of production from a lot of people. Players played within themselves and defended well. It was almost picture perfect."
Pistons first-round pick Darko Milicic, still searching for his first NBA field goal, entered the game in the waning seconds. His first shot was rejected by Ilgauskas. Then, as time was running out, he had a wide-open dunk. However, he didn't get high enough and the ball slammed off the rim.
"I wanted to see if he acted like he belonged," Brown said. "He acted like he was being insulted. To me, it's like being in a JV game."
The Cavaliers, though, have their own worries. But on this night, they were the aggressor.
"We weren't worrying about (the season) slipping away," Boozer said. "We were getting anxious about getting over the hump. We were playing good basketball, except in the last six or seven minutes of games. We know we're right there on the brink of getting something started."
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